Letters from a Milkman

Here’s a letter from Joe from November 1997. 

Why it's a 2014 Christmas card from my ole pen pal Joe Jack Talcum of the Dead Milkmen! Rejoice!

Hey thanks for writing. That's awesome! Yeah, I  have a ton more letters I still need to post. 

In celebration of the new Dead Milkmen album, Pretty Music for Pretty People, here’s a letter I got from from Joe Jack Talcum in April 1997.

Here's a letter from Joe from December 1996. It's another Christmas card! I have some of these Touch Me Zoo tapes laying around. I think I'll put one on now. 

Here's a letter from Joe from December 1995. I must have sent him one  of my homemade rap tapes. 

This one was in an envelope in an envelope from August 1995. Since I was in college I never really had a permanent address. Looks like he found me at my parent's house. He mentions playing with J.P. Hasson. You might remember him from JP Incorporated and Pleaseeasaur. Dead Milkmen fans know what's up. Cool picture inside of Joe in a Butthole Surfers t-shirt.

Here's one from Joe from December 1995. He talked about having an acid party and listening to Michael Jackson while watching The Never Ending Story. One of my top five letters. Also talked about Gwar a little bit and told me not to quit college.

Here's a card from Joe from December 1994. Also inside was the DM Newsletter #58. Pretty sure this was one of the last newsletters I received.

Here's a letter from Joe from October 1994. That "dime among nickels quote" is a story my Dad told me about how he dealt with racism in rural Texas. Once my Dad was being getting bullied and he told them he felt like a "dime among nickels." I still tell that story years later. Anyway, enjoy!

Here's a photo of Joe and I this past weekend in Austin. It was an outside show in 28 degree weather. Hands down, probably the best Dead Milkmen shows I've seen, though. Oh...and I totally got to open for the Dead Milkmen! I got to DJ before and between bands. Super fun! 

Here's a letter from Joe from August 1994. I was home for the summer but by the time he wrote back I was already back at college in San Antonio. Thanks, Mom, for forwarding it! Lovely artwork on the envelopes. Cool stickers mocking Fugazi. The 'TMZ' stands for Joe's other project, Touch Me Zoo. Pretty good letter. . . Stoked that Superchunk is STILL doing their thing. Also...a little back story. The "graduation" we're talking about is a video I sent him of me fake falling down at my high school graduation. My friends, who were a year older than me, made a mini movie out of it. One of them went on to create a little show called 'Pawn Stars' (Colby Gaines...look him up). Anyway, that was a tangent...

Here's a letter from Joe from June 1994. He put Newsletter #57 inside. Dead Milkmen call it quits!

Here's a postcard from July 11, 1993. Joe took the time to wrote while they were recording their 7th studio album, 'Not Richard But Dick.' So many bands have recorded at Q-Division including Pixies who actually recorded 'Surfer Rosa' there.

Just found this one from November 27, 1992. It's a promotional postcard for "If I Had A Gun," a single from one of my favorite Dead Milkmen albums, 'Soul Rotation.' Technically not a letter but still fun to share!

Alright...After looking at the date, I just realized that this is actually Letter No. 22 and the last one was lettter No. 23....but let's just call this Letter No. 23. Anyway, he sent a tape of a band he was producing at the time, Ashtray. I wonder whatever happened to them or if they ever toured. If they did, I never got to see them. Four songs with some Joe Jack sensibilities. Track this tape down. It's pretty good.